Social media, your wedding, and TMI.

The modern age has given us so many new ways to share information. Instant gratification is the norm and breaking news comes from any variety of sources – some reputable and some not. Facebook is certainly the “king of social media”, but it can certainly have its pros and cons (or “likes” and “dislikes”). ;^)

For some, social media and the use of Facebook in particular adds to the excitement of wedding planning. Sharing ideas with friends, posting pictures, etc. can be a great way to stay connected. Pinterest is also a popular spot to get ideas and gather information. However, I always like to point out that one of the issues with social media is that images are often different than the reality of the scene depicted.

A good example of this is a recent trend for brides and grooms to have a “private” last dance. This is where the bride and groom have the room cleared of all guests and dance together in order to reflect on the night and all that has transpired. It makes for some beautiful pictures. But the reality is that there is often busy service staff in the background making noise and clanking dishes, the DJ and photographers are still in the room. And where are the 100 or so remaining guests during this time? Social media can sometimes bring expectations to a level the sets people up for disappointment.

Another cautionary tale is announcing plans to be at certain locations to the general public. It is well known that social media is a bastion for identity thieves and regular thieves alike. Weddings are usually followed by a honeymoon, so be cautious of announcing these things online for the world to see. Much better to tell us all where you have been than where you will be and when you will be leaving.

Possibly the most controversial use of social media in the DJ world is the use of Facebook as a promotional tool (i.e. advertising). There is a fine line between showing potential clients what you do and exploiting your current clients in order to impress future clients. I recently saw two DJs on Facebook posting pictures of their events in real time in order to compare their dance floor response to a particular song. This was during two actual weddings as they were happening. Over-sharing and TMI (too much information) are a danger zone on Facebook too! I believe that the use of photos of videos is best when used after-the-fact in order to highlight useful information to potential clients. I shoot a limited number of photos at each event as well as some video, but I am always mindful to get permission to do so.

It can be a great source of pleasure to see fun photos online, tag yourself and friends, and share candid moments via social media. It also helps to be able to show potential clients the venue where they might have their event. Like so many other things, there can be unintended consequences to the use of new technology. But with a little common sense and thought, social media makes a fun addition to the way we communicate about special events.

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